Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday gave a cautiously positive response to President Trump’s calls for his country’s readmission to what used to be the G8, and played down what he called the “internal problems” in the G7 following the forum’s tumultuous summit in Canada.

Putin also said he was ready for a face-to-face meeting with Trump “as soon as the U.S. side is ready.”

Speaking to Russian reporters in China, he repeated recent statements that a meeting between himself and Trump would be useful.

“The president of the United States has repeatedly said that he considers this meeting expedient, and I agree that this is indeed the case.”

In their most recent phone conversation, he said, Trump had expressed concern about the threat of a renewed arms race, and added, “I agree with him.”

Putin said the Russian foreign ministry and State Department need to work together, but that “personal meetings are certainly necessary as well.”